PLUS: SOCCER -- METROSTARS; Trades Clear Path For Foreigners

In a continuing effort to upgrade their roster, the MetroStars took some drastic steps yesterday as they completed trades with two other Major League Soccer teams that left them with three spots open for foreigners.

First, the MetroStars obtained Eric Wynalda, the career scoring leader of the United States national team, to complete a trade they made with San Jose on Jan. 20 that sent Marcelo Vega of Chile and Raul Diaz Arce of El Salvador to the Clash.

That triggered the MetroStars' next move: they traded Roy Myers of Costa Rica to Los Angeles for Welton of Brazil. The MetroStars then shipped Wynalda, Welton and Arley Palacios of Colombia to Miami for the allocated foreign player Miami will get for losing Carlos Valderrama to Tampa Bay last month.

We must get marquee players who will make a significant impact on our team, Charlie Stillitano, the MetroStars' vice president and general manager, said after completing the deals. We need to get more out of our foreign marquee spots. We need players who can make a difference.

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The league negotiates player contracts after teams submit a list of players they want. The league has been enormously cooperative in this, Stillitano said. We're adhering to the league's salary and international player guidelines.

Stillitano and Coach Bora Milutinovic decided to make the changes after the MetroStars suffered their fifth loss in the past six games last Saturday at Giants Stadium.

We're happy with our American players, and we haven't been totally unhappy with our foreigners, but we need impact players, Stillitano said.

Each team in the league is allowed four foreigners. With the departure of Myers and Palacios, the MetroStars are left with Eduardo Hurtado of Ecuador as their only foreigner. ALEX YANNIS